THE STORY
Quilts That Changed American Art
In a bend of the Alabama River southwest of Selma, four generations of Black women pieced quilts from worn work clothes and feed sacks — bold, improvisational compositions the art world now counts among America's greatest. Their 2002 exhibition traveled to thirteen major museums, and Gee's Bend quilts hang today in permanent collections across the country.
KEY FACTS
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Gee's Bend — officially Boykin — sits in Wilcox County, bounded on three sides by the Alabama River.
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Many quilters are direct descendants of people enslaved on the plantations that once occupied the Bend.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Gee's Bend in 1965; residents crossed the river to register to vote in Camden.
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The Bend's ferry, cut off in 1962, was restored in 2006 — reconnecting the community across the river.
AT THE FESTIVAL
A Day in Gee's Bend
Quilt Displays & Sales
See the celebrated quilts up close — and take one home from the women who made them.
Guided Tours
Walk the community with the people who know its history best.
Workshops
Hands-on sessions with Gee's Bend quilters, from piecing and stitching to storytelling.
Food & Music
Local food and live music carry the celebration through the day.
Festival admission is open to all.
Donations help keep the festival accessible to attendees and affordable for local vendors.
TRIP DETAILS
The Day at a Glance
SCHEDULE
7:30 AM — Depart Mobile
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11:00 AM — Arrive Gee's Bend
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3:00 PM — Depart Gee's Bend
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6:30 PM — Arrive back in Mobile
GOOD TO KNOW
Round-trip motorcoach transportation — $60 per person
Departure point: VIA in rear parking lot at 1717 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36604
Reserve ahead of time
About 3½ hours each way — come ready for a full festival day